Does anyone recommend a drop pitman arm for a 3" lift? When would one of these be needed? Thanks, fwbb

 

I don't have enough knowledge to answer your question, but all I can say is that in the 3.5" lift that I installed on my JKU, there was a modified pitman arm (probably is what you mean by drop pitman arm, I suppose). So I just followed the instruction steps and removed the stock one with the appropriate socket and then pitman arm puller. Reinstalled the one form the kit and that's it. My JK still drives well, almost the same than stock. I imagine the little difference in the feeling of the steering wheel is caused by the 35" tires...

 

For a three inch lift, you probably don't need to do much to address steering geometry. If you DO feel the need for a drop pitman arm, then I'd suggest that you look into bracing the sector shaft on your steering box. JKS makes a kit that looks very good - braces to the passenger side frame, and also puts the sector shaft into double shear.

If you feel the need to do something, I'd look at a drag link flip instead of a drop pitman arm. Just bear in mind that if flipping the drag link means that it is no longer parallel with your track bar, you've probably created a bigger problem than you have "solved". I ran with a 3" lift for almost two years before I did a drag link flip - and the reason I did it was that my new axle truss included a track bar bracket which was MUCH higher than the stock location.

 

I was thinking the pitman arm was attached to the drag link on the down side and to the steering box on the upper side not to the trackbar. Maybe I'm wrong.

 

You are correct. The pitman arm connects the sector shaft to the drag link.

The reason he is suggesting a trackbar drop bracket is that this changes the trackbar geometry. To get good steering geometry, you want your track bar and your drag link to be as close to parallel as you can manage - and having them close to parallel with the ground is better than having them at a steep angle. The further you get away from this goal, the more bump steer that you will feel.

 

A drop pitman or steering correction drag/flip is not needed for a 3in lift, unless said 3in lift gives you 4 or more inches of actual lift. Which some do, Teraflex, Rockrawler to name a few.

 

Ok thanks for info guys. I'm not the OP and I don't want to hi-jack the thread, but I like the question & I feel concerned a little bit also.

My lift is a basic one. RC 3.5 series II. I went this way (cheap option) just to fit the 35" under the jeep for the moment. In a year or two, if I wheel harder or more often, or if the lift kit start to sag, I will invest into a better one such as the TF 3" with 8arms, RK, OME, Clayton, Currie...

So for the moment the kit I have contains: 4 non-progressive springs, 4 nitro 2.0 shocks, 2 longer non-adjustable front lower control arms design to match the kit, front trackbar bracket, drop pitman arm, rear trackbar bracket, extension bumpstop, extension brakeline bracket.

This lift gave me more/less 4 1/4" lift on the front (without heavy bumper), and jeep is now almost leveled.

So as an inexperienced jeeper, I just installed everything.

Should I worry about having the drop pitman arm in my set-up?
I will check later tonight if the drag link and the trackbar looks parallel and how steep they are...

 

With 35's and a drop pitman arm....yes I'd be a little concerned. The reason that the drop pitman arm can cause issues is that it means extra leverage applied to the sector shaft. Couple that with the higher steering forces required for 35's (and the stronger push-back that they send up to the pitman arm when they hit something), you may find that your sector shaft and steering box will wear faster than normal. I wouldn't run out and rip the drop pitman arm off of your rig right away....but a sector shaft brace kit may not be a bad idea.

 

I just purchased a TeraFlex JK Elite LCG 3" Long Arm Suspension System this week and I called TereFlex to ask this exact question. His comments were you never really want to change the pitman arm to a dropped pitman arm. I obvioulsy have no idea which is why I called. I am sure I will get more than 3" of lift with this kit and he specifically stated not to install a dropped pitman arm.

 

No drop pitman arm..Great, i appreciate all the advice! fwbb